February 2025
American Heart month is highlighted in February, a time to raise awareness about heart disease, educate individuals on heart health and risk factors, promote screenings and making healthy lifestyle choices, and advocate for research and treatment.
This is important because heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. To raise awareness about this issue, "National Wear Red Day" this year on February 7th, typically celebrated on the first Friday in February.
In the United States:
- 1 in 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease
- 1 in 20 adults age 20 and older have coronary heart disease
In Massachusetts:
- ~313,000 people in Massachusetts have coronary heart disease
- 35% of deaths in Massachusetts is from heart disease, stroke, and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels
Take Charge of your Health with these Tips:
- Get enough sleep: 7-9 hours a night
- Eat a well-balanced dies: include fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and fish
- Incorporate regular exercise into your schedule: walking, running, swimming, cycling, and strength training
- Health Screenings: blood pressure checks (once a year), cholesterol tests (4-6 years, starting at age 20), blood sugar tests (every 3 years, starting at age 45)
- Stop Smoking: after 1 year without cigarettes, your risk of heart disease drops by half
.jpeg "Wear Red Day - February 7, 2025")
Cancer Prevention Month is also in February, first observed in 2014, the purpose to educate individuals about cancer prevention and early detection. According to the American Cancer Association, 50% of cancer cases and death can be preventable by early detection, lifestyle changes, and assessing your risk factors of developing certain cancers.
In 2024:
- ~2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer, not including non-melanoma skin cancer
- ~600,000 died their from their disease
Different Ways to Prevent Cancer:
- Not smoking, or quitting if you're a smoker
- Addressing excess body weight
- Be physically active
- Avoid exposure to the sun or wear sunscreen or protective clothing if going out in the sun
References:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month
https://newsroom.heart.org/events/february-is-american-heart-month-national-wear-red-day-black-history-month-and-more
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/php/heart-month/index.html
https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/give/wear-red-and-give
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/national-cancer-prevention-month/
https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-prevention-action-week/cancer-prevention-action-week-2025/
https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/february-is-national-cancer-prevention-month/